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Banned Biographies is an audio documentary series charting the careers of some of the most notorious bands ever to grace the world's stages.
Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
This episode of the Banned Biographies podcast is a very special interview with Pete Trainor, a designer, product-innovator, author, strategist, applied data specialist, technologist, suicide prevention campaigner, and massive music fan. He talks all over the world on creative and social technologies, data, Ai and the physiological and psychological effects on their audiences.
However, in 2023 he zigged when many would zag, and published his second book, ‘Calling All The Dreamers‘. The remarkable true story about a Britpop band called Electrasy who went crashing through the record industry, but were ultimately halted by technology and shifting human-behaviour.
Pete got in contact with me a few months ago about the book and wondered if I’d like to read it with a view to arranging an interview with Electrasy. That will still happen in the future, but what struck me about the book was the level of fandom he has for this little known band from his home town of Yeovil and why he felt he needed to tell the story. For many of us I felt that this would be the perfect entry level to the Electrasy story and will certainly inform the direction of the interview with the band in the near future.
In this conversation we not only talk about the book and the career of Electrasy, we also get into what drives fandom, life in provincial towns, the pros and cons of technology in life (let alone the music industry) and Pete’s role as a technologist and professional speaker, which goes deep.
‘Calling All The Dreamers’ is now available in paperback and Electrasy’s debut album, Beautiful Insane’ has been re-released using AI technology from the original studio demos from 1998. So be sure to visit electrasy.co.uk where you can buy Beautiful Insane, their other music, merch and Pete’s book 'Calling All The Dreamers', alternatively, you could visit Pete’s website trainor.fyi to buy any of his books, see some of his amazing work and watch his various talks, they’re well worth it.
Contact Pete Trainor
Twitter: @petetrainor
Banned Biographies Merch: https://my-store-cfdac5.creator-spring.com
Contact
Twitter: @BannedBiogs
Facebook: @BannedBiographies
Instagram: @bannedbiographies
E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com
Friday Nov 24, 2023
Friday Nov 24, 2023
Apologies for not releasing an episode last month, I’ve been putting the finishing touches to my new office as well as gigging and recording with my bands, so I didn’t have the time to get anything done, in fact I had to postpone a few interviews because of it all which is a reflection of how little time I’ve had.
I'm back now though to let you know what's been going on and what you can expect on the next episode, which will be released next week.
The news in this episode revolves around festival line up announcements, tour date announcements and cancellations, new album announcements, the controversy around the buy-out and subsequent lay-offs at Bandcamp, guitarist Jeff Schroeder quitting The Smashing Pumpkins, blink-182 playing a gig in a diner, Blondie's Chris Stein releasing an autobiography, Rat Scabies re-joining The Damned, and Shane MacGowan's ongoing health issues.
Singles and EPs by Millie Manders and the Shut Up, Feeder, Cherym, The Sleeping Souls, Bad Cop/Bad Cop, IDLES, Alkaline Trio, Sleaford Mods, Sigrid, Bob Vylan, Grade 2, The Beatles, Deap Valley, Pendulum, and Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes are reviewed.
Album reviews include: The Darker The Shadow The Brighter The Light by The Streets, Paint My Bedroom Black by Holly Humberstone, We Stand Against You by Mondo Generator, Be Lucky by Death Of Guitar Pop, Doom Loop by Dream Nails, Angst Music by Laurie Black, Hackney Diamonds by Rolling Stones, One More Time... by blink-182, Danse Macabre by Duran Duran, History Books by The Gaslight Anthem, 2RUFF, Vol. 1 by Chase & Status, and the sublime Theatre of the Absurd presents C'est La Vie by Madness.
Merch: https://my-store-cfdac5.creator-spring.com
Contact
Twitter: @BannedBiogs
Facebook: @BannedBiographies
Instagram: @bannedbiographies
E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com
Sunday Oct 01, 2023
Sunday Oct 01, 2023
On this episode of the Banned Biographies podcast your host, Tom Austin-Morgan, talks about what's been going on since last months' episode, and what you can expect from the next one.
The news this month concerns: Anti-Flag, Devo, Pussy Riot, Cro-Mags and Destroy Zine's conflicting stories of violence, Rolling Stone Magazine and Rock n Roll Hall of Fame co-founder Jann Wenner being sacked, Laura Jane Grace, and Live Nation dropping merch cuts at some US club-sized venues.
Tom reviews the singles by Pendulum, Lucky Hit, L7, Chase & Status, Holly Humberstone, Blink-182, Duran Duran, The Sleeping Souls, Sleaford Mods, Sum 41, Laurie Black, Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes,. The Streets, Madness, The Rolling Stones, U2, The Lathums, and Barns Courtney.
The albums reviewed this month are: Turquoise by Electric Six, Sea of Mirrors by The Coral, CMF2 by Corey Taylor, Race The Night by Ash, Relentless by The Pretenders, Fat Mike Gets Strung Out by Fat Mike, Nothing Lasts Forever by Teenage Fanclub, Rock 'n' Roll Club by Kurt Baker, and Outta Sync by Don Letts.
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Contact
Twitter: @BannedBiogs
Facebook: @BannedBiographies
Instagram: @bannedbiographies
E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com
Monday Sep 11, 2023
Monday Sep 11, 2023
In 1976 school friends Mike Barson and Lee Thompson formed a band called the North London Invaders, roping in other friends of theirs Chris Foreman, John Hasler and Cathal Smyth to play rock n roll and soul songs. The line-up was a tumultuous one and only solidified two years later when Hasler was eventually replaced on drums by Daniel Woodgate, Mark Bedford replacing Smyth on bass with Smyth becoming a brass player, dancer and singer and lead singer Graham McPherson aka Suggs finally decided to commit rather than watch Chelsea play football. They also adopted a new name, Madness, after a song by ska/reggae legend Prince Buster.
Thus was born a band that became one of the most prominent bands of the late 1970s and early 1980s two-tone ska revival. Madness have had 16 singles reach the UK top ten and between 1980 to 1986, the band's songs spent a total of 214 weeks on the UK Singles Chart.
Their music videos showcased them as a fun gang that kids and adults alike wanted to be a part of with flying saxophonists and nutty trains. But, behind the scenes in-fighting and constantly butting up against their label boss, as well as incredible success, put pressure on the band which caused rifts and breakups over the years.
This episode of Banned Biographies deals with this heady first decade and the rise and fall of one of the most beloved British bands to ever strut their stuff.
Merch: https://my-store-cfdac5.creator-spring.com
Contact
Twitter: @BannedBiogs
Facebook: @BannedBiographies
Instagram: @bannedbiographies
E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com
Thursday Sep 07, 2023
Thursday Sep 07, 2023
On this episode of the Banned Biographies podcast your host, Tom Austin-Morgan, thanks Brompton Jackson from Wilmette for his time on last months' episode, and what you can expect from the next episode which will be out soon.
The news this month concerns: The continuing allegations against Justin Sane of Anti-Flag, the passing of Sinéad O’Connor, Jamie Reid and Steve Harwell, Descendents, Devo, Billy Idol, GBH, The Bronx, The Damned, Ben Weasel from Screaching Weasel's new book, Bob Vylan, Bad Cop/Bad Cop, Fishbone and GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan touring together, former Lostprophets frontman and convicted peadophile, Ian Watkins getting stabbed in prison, Madball, Chris Flippin, Paramore, Glenn Danzig, TV Smith, Dexys, Green Day, Fat Mike, Lars Fredericksen, Amyl and the Sniffers, Bouncing Souls, L7, Flogging Molly, Bad Religion, and The Rolling Stones.
Tom reviews the singles by Pretenders, The Coral, Holly Humberstone, Bad Cop/Bad Cop, Teenage Fanclub, Fat Mike, Corey Taylor, The Streets, Soft Play, Ash, Mondo Generator, The Gaslight Anthem, Molotov Jukebox, Dream Nails, and The Rolling Stones.
The albums reviewed this month are: The Female Divine by Dexys, Smile by Skindred, The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons by The Hives, A Call to the Void by Hot Milk, Road by Alice Cooper, and Back to The Water Below by Royal Blood.
Merch: https://my-store-cfdac5.creator-spring.com
Contact
Twitter: @BannedBiogs
Facebook: @BannedBiographies
Instagram: @bannedbiographies
E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com
Friday Aug 04, 2023
Friday Aug 04, 2023
On this episode of the Banned Biographies podcast host Tom Austin-Morgan sits down over Zoom to speak with Brompton Jackson, guitarist with Chicago bands Wilmette, Action/Adventure and Knockout Kid.
Specifically we focus on Wilmette for this episode as he’s the newest member of this particular group and they have released their long-awaited debut full-length album, 'Hyperfocused,' today (4th August 2023) via Mutant League Records.
The album was produced by Seth Henderson of the bands State Champs and Knuckle Puck, and is the follow-up to Wilmette’s 2019 debut EP 'Anxious Body.' In this conversation we talk about the making of the album, how he handled joining a band during the pandemic, and how someone in as many touring bands as Brompton is manages it all!
Find Wilmette:
Banned Biographies Merch: https://my-store-cfdac5.creator-spring.com
Contact
Twitter: @BannedBiogs
Facebook: @BannedBiographies
Instagram: @bannedbiographies
E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com
Tuesday Jul 25, 2023
Tuesday Jul 25, 2023
On this episode of the Banned Biographies podcast your host, Tom Austin-Morgan, thanks David Green from Moonraker for his time on last months' episode, and what you can expect from the next episode which will be out soon.
The news this month concerns: L7, The Slackers, Paramore, Bob Vylan, Fall Out Boy, Bad Cop/Bad Cop, David Vanian and the Phantom Chords, Finch, MxPx, Ozzy Osbourne, Decsendents, Green Day, The Dollyrots, Alkaline Trio, and - of course - Anti-Flag.
Tom reviews the singles Antichrist/Room Service by Holly Humberstone, The One by Taking Back Sunday, Taking Up Sports by Cherym, My Submission by Dexys, Subculture Rock n Roll/Pleaser split by The Drowns/The Last Gang, Foreign Land and Tired Of Being Alone by Teenage Fanclub, Rigor Mortis Radio by The Hives, Post Traumatic Blues by Corey Taylor, BLOODSTREAM by Hot Milk, Troubled Waters by The Streets, Pull Me Through by Royal Blood, Unstoppable by Skindred, Like A God by Ash, Shoebox Memories by Lucky Hit, Childhood Eyes EP by Yellowcard, Fuck Day Six (String Version) by Fat Mike, I’m Alice and White Line Frankenstein by Alice Cooper, Positive Charge and History Books by The Gaslight Anthem, and Get It by The Sewer Cats.
The albums reviewed this month are Chaos For The Fly by Grian Chatten, Caesar Salad Days by Adolescents, and Dream Big, Live Large, Play Hard by RudeGRL + CC.
Merch: https://my-store-cfdac5.creator-spring.com
Contact
Twitter: @BannedBiogs
Facebook: @BannedBiographies
Instagram: @bannedbiographies
E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com
Saturday Jul 01, 2023
Saturday Jul 01, 2023
On this episode of the Banned Biographies podcast host, Tom Austin-Morgan, chats to David Green, drummer in US pop punk band Moonraker.
Moonraker has been a unit since 2011 releasing numerous singles and EPs and three full-length albums, the most recent of which – The Forest – was released in May 2022. To celebrate the anniversary of this album, and to get us ready for new music, Moonraker has released a new video for the song 'I Really Wanted To' where the band face off against another team in a deadly game of whirleyball.
We talk about what the hell Whirley ball is as well as David's musical inspirations, what’s wrong with a certain retiring punk band, secret hotel room vandalism, why pop music is benefitting from ‘going punk’, and much more.
Find Moonraker:
Instagram @moonrakerpunx
Twitter @moonrakerpunx
Banned Biographies Merch: https://my-store-cfdac5.creator-spring.com
Contact
Twitter: @BannedBiogs
Facebook: @BannedBiographies
Instagram: @bannedbiographies
E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com
Thursday Jun 29, 2023
Thursday Jun 29, 2023
On this episode of the Banned Biographies podcast your host, Tom Austin-Morgan, thanks Christopher Swinney for his time on last months' episode, and talks about his experience at the Rancid show a couple of weeks ago, and what you can expect from the next episode which will be out soon.
The news this month concerns: Social Distortion's Mike Ness, Poli Van Dam, Alkaline Trio, Generations Sex, Devo, Alice Cooper, NOFX's Fat Mike, T.S.O.L., X, The Hives, Cro-Mags, Billy Idol, and The Offspring.
Tom reviews the singles Mountains At Midnight by Royal Blood (and talks about THAT Radio 1's Big Weekend performance), Childhood Eyes by Yellowcard, Telepath by Jimmy Eat World, Countdown To Shutdown by The Hives, Good Guy by Dream Nails, Race The Night by Ash, Coming Home by Dexys, I Think About You Daily by Pretenders, Happy Complaining EP by Smile Wide, Algorithms by Kasabian, and The Score, Last Time Every Time Forever, and Fairlies by Fontaines D.C. frontman Grian Chatten.
The albums reviewed this month are Paradise by Indian pop punk band Sages From The Future, In Times New Roman by Queens Of The Stone Age and Born Rude by South Korean street punk band Rumkicks.
Merch: https://my-store-cfdac5.creator-spring.com
Contact
Twitter: @BannedBiogs
Facebook: @BannedBiographies
Instagram: @bannedbiographies
E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com
Thursday Jun 29, 2023
Thursday Jun 29, 2023
On this episode of the Banned Biographies Podcast host Tom Austin-Morgan talks to Christopher Swinney, guitarist of pop punk supergroup Fire Sale, which also includes Matt Riddle from Face to Face, Pulley and No Use For A Name, Pedro Aida from Ann Beretta and ShotClock, and Matt Morris from Darlington and 44 Gorgeous Blocks.
Fire Sale was born during the pandemic as a song-writing project but has since released a handful of EPs and singles as well as playing live shows, despite the members living in completely different parts of the US. Today they've released their first video for the most recent single - 'A Fool’s Errand' - which you can watch here.
During the conversation we talk about loads of things including his love of metal, punk rock and rap as well as what drives him and his experience with both the creative and business sides of the music business over a career spanning most of his adult life.
You can follow Fire Sale:
www.facebook.com/firesaleisaband
www.instagram.com/firesaleisaband
Listen to Chris's podcast: That One Time On Tour
And you can follow their record company, Negative Progression Records:
https://www.instagram.com/negativeprogression/
https://www.facebook.com/negativeprogression/
https://negativeprogressionrecords.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/NPRTV
Merch: https://my-store-cfdac5.creator-spring.com
Contact
Twitter: @BannedBiogs
Facebook: @BannedBiographies
Instagram: @bannedbiographies
E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com